The Stories of JasonJason is a hero in Greek mythology, who is famous for his journey to Colchis in search of the Gold Fleece with other Greek heroes. In order to regain the power of the kingdom Iolcus, Jason had to complete the task from his uncle Pelias, regardless of any hardship, he had to get the Gold Fleece.Jason’s Early ExperienceJason was the son of Aeson, the King of Iolcus; and his mother was Alcimede, the daughter of Autolycus. The king Aeson had a stepbrother called Pelias, who was violent and unjust. Aeson and Pelias shared a common mother, Tyro, who was the daughter of Salmoneus and god Poseidon. Pelias was eager for the throne of Lolcus, so he killed Aeson and most of his descendants. However, luckily, the baby Jason was sent to the centaur Chiron to be raised on Mt. Pelion, so Pelias could not do anything bad to Jason. And the name Jason was given by the Chiron.With time going on, Jason gradually grew up. At this time, Pelias was holding a great ceremony to his so-called father Poseidon, Jason decided to attend.In his way to Iolcus, Jason met a old woman, who was Hera in disguise. He helped the “old woman” across the torrential river and was rewarded by Hera at last. However, when Jason cross the river, he lost one of his sandal. It was believed by Pelias that a man in Lolcus who was wearing one sandal would seized the power from him.Then, Jason found Pelias and claimed his kingdom. Pelias agreed, but he put acondition that Jason should bring him the Golden Fleece, which belonged to the king of Colchis and was guarded by a powerful dragon. Pelias thought that the task was impossible and Jason would never come back.The Journey to ColchisJason began to gather companions without hesitation. At last he gathered a team of 50 people and started their voyage on a ship called 'Agro'. About this team, each one was a famous hero, the son or grandson of a god. Such heroes like Heracles, who just returned from his adventure with the Erymanthian boar. Orpheus was there, the divine musician; Castor and Polydeuces, the twin-brothers of Helen; Meleager of Calydon; Peleus and Telamon, whose sons, Achilles and Ajax, were to be great heroes of the Trojan War①; and so on. Together they were known as the 'Argonauts'.On their journey, the Argonauts had met kinds of challenges. Then, after a long voyage, the Argonauts reached Thrace, the home of Phineus, a man who had great gift of prophecy that he could tell men all the future. At that time, the God Helios sent monsters called Harpies to kill Phineus for his power. Jason killed Harpies and saved Phineus. And in return, Phineus told him the site of Colchis where the Golden Fleece was kept, and what the Argonauts would meet during their further voyage. To reach Colchis, the Argonauts had to travel through the cliffs of Symplegades. So Phineus suggested that Jason release a dove between the cliffs. If the dove was able to reach pass the cliffs, the Argonauts could make it, too. Jason did accordingly. Afterwitnessing the dove pass the cliff safely, Jason and Argonauts followed and went through it.The Gold FleeceFinally Jason, as well as the Argonauts reached Colchis. Jason met up with the King Aeetes and asked him to give him the Gold Fleece. However, the King Aeetes said that to prove Jason was worthy to receive the Gold Fleece, he should at first complete several tasks. First of all, Jason was asked to control the bulls that breathed out fire and plow with them the field of Ares. When this was done, Jason should plant the dragon’s teeth that Athena had given. Then, if all this was accomplished between dawn and sunset, he should receive the golden fleece. Though he looked upon it as an impossible task, Jason could do no better than accept the king’s condition.②Luckily, with the help of Aeetes’ daughter -- Medea, Jason completed these tasks. However, Aeetes did not want to give Jason the Gold Fleece and decided to kill Jason and the Argonauts. Also because of Medea, Jason became aware of the king’s scheme. Then, Medea revealed the Gold Fleece’ hiding place and drugged the guardian dragon. Thus, Jason got the Gold Fleece without the King Aeetes’ awareness. Then the Argonauts fled Colchis with the fleece, also with Medea, the princess of Colchis.Go Back to IolcusWhen the Argonauts returned to Iolcus, they found that Pelias had continued hisrule and refused to pass his power to Jason. Then, Medea, who was Jason’s wife now, persuaded Pelias that he could be young again if had pieces of his body boiled in a magical brew. She then convinced Pelias’ daughters that they should perform the task of cutting up their father. Pelias was thus murdered by his innocent daughters. Jason seized the city, but he and Medea were expelled by Acastus, the son of Pelias.With MedeaMedea was the daughter of the King Aeetes, who had a brother called Absyrtus. Medea fell in love with Jason when she first saw him in the palace with her father. Medea said that she would help Jason complete the tasks from her father to get the gold fleece, on condition that he married her and took her with him to Greece. Jason agreed.After the King Aeetes knew that the gold fleece was stolen by Jason with the help of her own daughter, he sent armies to catch them. Then, Medea did a quite horrible thing to stop her father, that she killed his brother Absyrtus and cut his body into pieces, scattering them in the sea. Then, Zeus punished Medea for killing her own brother and drove the Argos off course. But after purification by Circle nymph, they could continue their journey.On their return voyage, Jason and the Argonauts stopped at the island of the Phaeacians, ruled by King Alcinoos and his wife Arete. The pursuers from Colchis arrived at about the same time and demanded the return of Medea. Alcinoos agreed to the Colchians' demand, but only if Medea weren't already married. Arete secretlyarranged the marriage between Jason and Medea, with Hera's blessings.After the Argonauts returning to Lolcus, just as mentioned before, Medea tricked Pelias’ innocent daughters into killing him in order to seize the power from him for Jason. She succeed, but then, she, as well as Jason, was expelled from the Lolcus for the murder.Then they went to Corinth for refuge. But Jason gradually forgot his oath and tried to divorce Medea so that he could marry Creusa, daughter of King Creon. In revenge, Medea, by magic and trickery, burned to death both the Creusa and his father, as well as her own two children. Then, Medea left.Jason’s EndBecause Jason had broken his oath, the gods caused him to wander homeless for many years. As an old man Jason returned to Corinth, where, resting in the shadow of the Argo, he was killed when the prow toppled over on him.。